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Freedom Caucus: Snapshots of Five Members

The Freedom Caucus is made up of hard-line Republicans who have banded together to try to force changes in how the House Republican leadership functions. The New York Times visited five congressional districts — in Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan and Maryland — represented by members of the Freedom Caucus.

1. Mr. Brat is the only member of the House with a Ph.D. in economics, but he is one of several with a degree in divinity.

2. Mr. Brat raised a little more than $200,000 for his 2014 primary victory, compared with $5.7 million raised by his opponent, Eric Cantor.

3. Jack Trammell, Mr. Brat’s Democratic opponent in the 2014 general election, was a fellow professor at Randolph-Macon College.

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Mr. Hice at a meeting in Wrightsville, Ga.
Credit
Kevin D. Liles for The New York Times

Representative Jody Hice

Republican of Georgia

1. Mr. Hice is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. He served as senior pastor of Bethlehem First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Ga.

2. Mr. Hice opposed Internal Revenue Service rules barring clergy from making political endorsements. In 2008, he endorsed John McCain for president in a sermon from his pulpit. Clergy who engage in electoral politics risk jeopardizing their congregation’s tax-exempt status, but in recent years the I.R.S. has taken no action.

3. Mr. Hice faced criticism after The Athens Banner-Herald, in an article about women in politics, quoted him as saying, “If the woman’s within the authority of her husband, I don’t see a problem.”

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Mr. Schweikert at a Tea Party meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Credit
Deanna Alejandra Dent for The New York Times

Representative David Schweikert

Republican of Arizona

1. Mr. Schweikert’s mother, who was single, chose to give him up for adoption. His adoptive parents took him to Scottsdale, Ariz.

2. Mr. Schweikert and his wife, Joyce, are in the process of adopting a child.

3. On a recent day, he had 12 cappuccinos by 7 p.m. — and nothing to eat after breakfast. “I have a serious coffee problem,” Mr. Schweikert said.

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Mr. Amash at a town-hall-style meeting in Hastings, Mich.
Credit
Nick King for The New York Times

Representative Justin Amash

Republican of Michigan

1. Mr. Amash’s father, a Palestinian, came to the United States with the sponsorship of a Christian pastor. His mother is a Syrian immigrant.

2. Mr. Amash, 35, is one of the youngest members of Congress. He offers an explanation for his votes on his Facebook page.